Tuesday, October 4, 2016

My New Favorite Crochet Pattern

   A while ago, there was a picture circulating Facebook of a cute little baby blanket with a bear on it. It kept popping up on my news feed since I know a few crocheters and all of my friends know I crochet. After about the 3rd time someone shared it with me, I thought I would look into this thing called corner to corner (c2c) crochet.

   I did a quick google search and found how to do it. It looked easy enough so I figured I would try it out. All I needed was a graph with a picture.

   Now, those of you that know me, know that I don't ever do anything the easy way. When it comes to crafts, I'm of the "go big or go home" club. I grabbed some graph paper and a pencil and got to work.

   I wasn't really sure how the sizing would work, so I just guessed and made myself a little graph.

   My brother in law and his wife both went to University of Utah so I figured I would make my first one for them. Plus, my littlest one idolizes said uncle and so if it turned out small, I had a fall back person to give it to.

   It turned out small (of course) so I made a few measurements, tweaked the graph, and got back to work.


   I had two super happy people when I was done!


   Once I finished the Utah ones, I decided they were the perfect size for a baby blanket. Since my sister in law was pregnant, I decided to make another one. I didn't have a ton of time to get it done before the baby shower, but I gave it a go; and I finished it the night before.


   Then my very own sister got pregnant. My sister and her hubby had been waiting for this for years. They were super excited and they both LOVE Batman. So, of course, I had to make them one as well.


   So, how do you do this corner to corner crochet? Let me show you. Once you get it down, it's so easy. I have one that doesn't have any color changes so it's pretty mindless work while you are watching tv.

   First, decide what you want. You can do a solid color or you can find a graph; or make one if you're into that kind of thing.

   To begin, chain 6


   Double crochet into the 4th one from the hook.


   Then do a double in both of the remaining 2 stitches. This is your first square


   Flip your square and chain 6


   Double crochet in the 4th, 5th, and 6th stitch. You now have 2 squares.


   Slip stitch into the chain space on your first square in the first row and then chain  3.


   Double crochet 3 more times in the chain space. This completes your second row.


   You are going to continue in this way. Every time you flip, chain 6 to make the growing square. Always slip stitch into the chain space of the next square from the previous row, chain 3, double crochet 3.


   As soon as you have your square as long and wide as you want, you are going to slip stitch into the chain space of last square on the previous row.


   Slip stitch across the square you just made.


   Chain 3


   Double crochet 3 and then slip stitch into the next square. This part is the same as the growing squares.


   You are going to continue back and forth until you close your square. Then you tie it off and weave in the ends. You now have a square!


   This is my new favorite crochet pattern. There are patterns to go around and finish off the sides if you want a boarder. I added one to the small Utah blanket and the SF one. The other two I left as is. Both ways turn out great! I love the look of it and it's so simple. You can make all sorts of designs and pictures on it. The possibilities are endless and I can't wait to start my next one. I just need to decide what I want to make and then graph it up. Any ideas?